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A FAN AND 

TWO 

CANDLESTICKS 

By 

MARY MACMILLAN 




STEWART KIDE 

LITTLE THEATRE PLAYS 
Edited by 

GRACE ADAMS 



Stewart Kidd Little Theatre Plays 

Edited by Grace Adams 

The Stewart Kidd Little Theatre Plays are 
designed to meet two definite demands. The first 
is that of the many Little Theatres for plays of 
actual dramatic distinction and of artistic impor- 
tance. The second is that of the general public 
for plays of true literary value. 

The Series is under the direct supervision of 
Miss Adams, who has selected and edited the 
plays to meet the particular requirements here 
instanced. The price of the plays has been made 
unusually low in the effort to bring them within 
the reach of everyone. Each play is issued in a 
form that is entirely practical for purposes of pro- 
duction. At the same time the books are artistic 
and attractive in appearance. They are by no 
means merely acting versions. 

Bound in art paper, each 50c, 

TITLES 

No. I. THE GHOST STORY 
by Booth Tarkington 

No. 2. SOUNDING BRASS 

by Edward Hale Bierstadt 

No. 3. A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 
by Mary MacMillan 

Others in preparation 



No. 3 
STEWART KIDD LITTLE THEATRE PLAYS 

Edited by Grace Adams 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 



A Fan and Two 
Candlesticks 

By 

MARY MACMILLAN 




CINCINNATI 
STEWART KIDD COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS ' 



COPYRIGHT 191 3, 1922, BY 

STEWART KIDD COMPANY 







All rights reserved 



The acting rights of A Fan and Two Candlesticks are reserved 

by the author. For permission to produce this play application 

must be made to Miss MacMillan in care of the publishers, 

Stewart Kidd Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. 



OCT 1 1 !922 



Printed in the United States of America 
The Caxton Press 



C1AG86205 



PERSONS IN THE PLAY 

Nancy 

Hugh 

Ralph 



A Fan and Two Candlesticks has been produced by amateur 

groups throughout the country*, and in November, 1920, Mr. 

Stuart Walker presented it at the Neighborhood Playhouse, 

New York. 



A FAN AND TWO 
CANDLESTICKS 

An old-fashioned party on St. Valentine's Night. 

Scene; A room at the end of a great hallway 
in a fine old Georgian mansion. The entrance is 
heavily curtained of and there are heavy hangings 
at the window. There is an open fireplace with 
great logs burning and two silver candlesticks, 
lighted, stand on the mantelpiece. The furniture 
is Georgian mahogany with a rococo touch in 
some bits. It includes a spinet, a little gilt chair, 
a spindle-legged table, a large mirror in a gilt 
frame, and a settee. The entrance is at the center 
of the back of the stage, the window at the left, the 
fireplace at the right, settee in front of the fireplace, 
spinet in the left corner, gilt chair near it in front 
of the window. Everything is very established, 
formal, decorative, as in the eight eeneth century. 
Music is heard of flutes, violins, bass-viols, and 
other instruments that made up the orchestra of 
that day. A very pretty girl enters in a ball-gown 
of the eighteenth century, and with her a young 
man. The girl is fair and flushed, with blue eyes, 
and has charm and latent vivacity. She is dressed 
in corn-color and white satin with trimmings of 
lace and pearls, has powdered hair, high-heeled 
white satin slippers with buckles, and a pink 
rose in her hair. The young man is good-looking, 
blond with dark eyes and a certain smoothness 
7 . 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

that indicates he will be fatter when the years are 
added. He wears a powdered wig, a light gree77 
satin coat, white satin waistcoat, old-rose knee 
breeches of a pale shade, silk stockings and buckled 
shoes. 

RALPH 

You're very good to come with me, 
I was afraid you'd not agree. 
To leave the dancing in the hall. 

NANCY 

When one's invited to a ball. 
One is expected, sure, to dance. 
Unless one meets with the mischance 
To sprain one's ankle or to fall 
Into a dreadful fainting fit! — 
I hope I'll not — 

RALPH 

Oh, don't do it! 

NANCY 

At least I'll try not at this ball. 
{They both laugh. The music is heard.) 

RALPH 

But where they're dancing 'tis so gay 
I was afraid you'd wish to stay, 

NANCY {archly) 
Perhaps I did. 

RALPH 

But yet you came. 

NANCY 

Why, one must always play the game. 
If you had asked instead, perchance. 
To have the pleasure of a dance, 

8 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

I would have stayed and danced with you. 
Don't you expect a maid to do 
Exactly as you ask her to? 

RALPH 

Why, yes, I do. And yet suppose 
A maid has several different beaux. 
She can't in truth content them all. 

NANCY 

She can, in turn, at one short ball. 

RALPH 

Yes, but I'm talkmg now of lite, 
I'm asking you to be my wife. 

NANCY {starting) 

Good gracious, Ralph, you don t prepare 
A maid for such a sudden scare! 

{She moves over to the spinet and sits down on 
the stooL He follows her.) 

RALPH 

Scare? Why, I thought you always knew 
It was the end I had in view. 

NANCY 

I didn't. And yet if I did. 
You had your end so safely hid 
I wouldn't ever dare to guess 
The secret you would fain repress. 

RALPH 

It was no secret and I vow — 

NANCY 

You never mentioned love till now. 
{Slowly and after a slight pause,) 
If I bethink me it doth prove 
You still have never mentioned love, 
9 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

RALPH 

I thought you knew. I had my work, 
Vm not a flirt and not a shirk. 
One doesn't hurry into fate. 

(He draws up the little gilt chair and sits down 
in front of her?} 

NANCY 

Did you not fear you might be late? 
That some one might have got before 
{Footsteps are heard approaching^ 
And entered ere you tried the door? 

(Hugh comes in through the curtains^ looks 
angry and disconcerted^ then cools down and 
bows most ceremoniously and low to them. He 
has a rather brown skin with color in his cheeks^ 
and fascinating grey-blue eyes. He is dressed 
in rather grey -blue velvet coaty very pale yellow 
satin waistcoat, lavender satin knee-breeches , 
silk stockings and buckled shoes.) 

HUGH 

Fm sorry, sir, your joy to spill. 
But Nancy promised this quadrille 
To me. 

NANCY 

Of course, Fd quite forgot. 
{She rises and curtsies low to him.) 
And that reminds me, have you not 
My fan? 

HUGH 

Your fan? 

lO 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

NANCY 

Yes, I have lost 

My fan, and am quite tempest-tossed 
Concerning it, for, don't you see? 
My dearest Grandma gave it me. 
And it is quite the handsomest. 
Oh, yes, and best and lovehest — 

HUGH 

Both fan and Grandmama I know. 
And we had all much better go. 
If it's not found, and quickly hide 
Our heads beneath the river's tide. 

RALPH 

Oh, may I be of any use? 
My ignorance is my excuse — 
You didn't tell me of your — 

NANCY {reproachfully) 
Well, 

You didn't give me time to tell. 
You see now that I'm sore distraught 
{In the most appealing and adorable voiced 
And if you had a little thought 
For me, you'd both go hunt my fan! 

HUGH 

What man can do, then, shall do man! 

{He seems about to go^ then turns back and 
confronts her. She is standing between the two 
men, Hugh on her right, Ralph on her left.) 

HUGH 

But, prithee, how will you reward 
The one who finds? 

II 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

NANCY 

With my regard, 

With gratitude and fair good will! 

HUGH 

With something else? The last quadrille? 

{There is a moment's silence ^ all three half 
smiling^ the two men on either side of the girl 
regarding her with keenest interest^ 

NANCY 

Why, yes, I promise last to dance 
Tonight with him who has the chance 
To find my fan. Now, au revoir. 
Be guided by some lucky star! 

{She sits down again on the stool before the spinet.) 

RALPH {turning hastily to go and bowing low to 
Nancy as he is about to pass through the curtains) 
Don't fret, for we will find the fan. 

HUGH {amused and mocking) 

I almost think you are the man! 
Then go and hunt — Til take the bird 
That's in the bush. For hope deferred 
Did ever make me sick. So here 
I'll stay with Nan. It would be queer 
For us to leave her quite alone — 
This is my time, the only one 
Perhaps I'll have. Give you good luck! 
I like you, Ralph, I like your pluck. 

{Hugh sits down on the little gilt chair and there 
is nothing left for Ralph to do but go. He smiles 
hopefully and reassuringly at Nancy.) 

12 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

RALPH 

Honor's the same in love and war, 
I'll bring the fan, then au revoir! 

{Ralph bows himself out through the curtains. 
Nancy rises and goes over to the other side of the 
room. She seems disturbed and to try to evade 
Hugh, who follows watching her. He goes to the 
settee and stands behind it, making a gesture of 
offering her a seat. She stands looking into the fire.) 

HUGH 

Won't you be seated, fair Nanette? 

NANCY 

My name is Nancy. 

HUGH 

But Nanette 

Is used for rhyming with coquette. 

NANCY 

Perhaps you are the one to know, 
They say you're such a heartless beau. 

HUGH 

I have been ever since I met 
The pretty maid I call Nanette. 
She'll neither give me back my heart. 
Nor give me hers — such is her art 
Of coquetry. Won't you sit down? 

{Nancy sits down on one end of the settee farthest 
from where he stands with his hand resting on 
the back of it.) 

HUGH 

You have on such a lovely gown, 

It doth become you e'en as gold (gallantly) 

Sets off the pearl it doth enfold. 

13 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

NANCY 

It seems you haven't lost your wit, {smiling) 
Nor tongue to help make use of it. 

HUGH 

You think my wit's a thing apart 
From my poor, luckless, lackless heart ? 

{He comes round to the front of the settee and sits 
down on it as far as possible from he7\ Then he 
leans over and plays with the lace trimming on 
her sleeve?) 

HUGH 

You think a man won't lose his mind 
Because he loves a maid unkind? 

NANCY 

I didn't quite say that — and yet — 

{As if meditating something to prove her point 

and try him.) 

Why don't you make a chansonnette? 

HUGH 

For dear Nanette? The fair coquette? 
I'll take your dare — some kind of rhyme 
I'll formulate, while you mark time. 

{They are both silent a few moments, she watching 
him with a quizzical smile, he with brows knitted, 
looking hard at the floor.) 

HUGH 

She lost her fan, did sweet Nanette, 
It wasn't quite within her plan, 
For while she played at the coquette. 
She lost her fan. 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 



Mayhap 'twas left in her sedan. 

Or maybe in the minuet 

Twas stolen by some naughty man. 

Just where it is I may not bet, 
But nothing's plainer to me than 
While trying some one's heart to net 
She lost her fan. 



NANCY 

It seems you haven't lost your head! 

HUGH 

I'd rather have a heart instead. 

NANCY 

You wouldn't be so nice, so gay. 

HUGH 

I'd go contented on my way, 
Nor hang about and linger so 
To hear a maiden's *'Yes" or *'No." 
You know it is the day divine 
That's sacred to St. Valentine, 
The day a lover must confess. 
The day a maiden should say ''Yes," 
The day the little birds all mate 
And bow to Love and nod to Fate. 
NANCY {hastily interrupting him) 
And yet the day of all the year 
Is likeliest to be most drear. 
I'm sure the robins have chilblains 
Upon their little toes. The lanes 
Are bleak and covered o'er with snow. 
And listen — how the east winds blow! 
Perchance there'll be a dreadful storm. 
15 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

HUGH {leaning to her) 

So much the more should hearts keep warm. 

Ah, dearest, let me hear you say 

The word I long for day by day, 

The little word for which I wait! 
NANCY {nervously) 

It must be getting very late! 

You haven't tried to find my fan. 

HUGH 

Why should I, since Ralph is the man? 

NANCY 

He isn't. And the last quadrille 
Is yours, if you the terms fulfil. 

HUGH 

If I produce the fan, you'll give 

The dance to me — now, as I live. 

If with the dance your heart's thrown in, 

I'll find the fan — I'll die or win! 

NANCY 

You're willing thus to trust to fate? 

{Footsteps are heard coming down the hall.) 

HUGH {entreatingly) 

Say **Yes" before it is too late! 

You'll give your heart with the last dance? 

{Nancy is very nervous a7id excited. She looks 
at Hugh with great earnestness and speaks almost 
in a whisper?) 

NANCY 

Yes! Fate forfend me from mischance! 

{Enter Ralph through the curtains^ 
i6 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

HUGH 

Ah, Ralph, you wear a cheerful smile, 
YouVe found it? 

RALPH 

No, I'll not beguile 

You {speaking to Nancy) into hopes, for every- 
where 
I've searched with diligence and care. 

{Nancy sighs and smiles relief. The situation is 
beginning to assume a serious aspect to her.) 

NANCY 

It surely isn't right at all 
To spoil the pleasure of this ball 
For you, and we'll abandon now 
Search for the fan. 

HUGH 

Oh, no, I vow! 

I'm to myself in honor bound! 

That fan this evening shall be found. 

NANCY 

Oh, pray, what difference does it make. 
Just for tonight? 

HUGH 

There is at stake 
Something I care for 

RALPH 

On the stair 

I hunted — underneath each chair. 

I'm very sorry, but I fear 

'Tis lost — and yet perhaps 'tis here! 

{He says this as if with sudden thought and as 
if with inspiration goes to the mantlepiece, takes 
17 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

one of the tall candlesticks from it, and proceeds 
to walk about the room looking carefully on the 
floor for the fan ^ 

NANCY {rather nervously to Hugh) 
Why don't you take the other one? 

{Hugh goes to the mantelpiece and takes there- 
from the other tall lighted candlestick and goes 
about the room as Ralph does, hunting on the 
floor and under the curtains and furniture for 
the fan,) 

NANCY {her nervousness increasing as she watches 
first one and then the other, finally gets up 
and follows first one and then the other) 
Oh, please don't bother any more, 
I'm sure it isn't on the floor. 
Give up the search, I beg of you! 

HUGH 

''Give up" was never yet my cue. 

RALPH 

To give up now I could not bear. 

HUGH 

But this I'll do: it is not fair 

For me to stay, I'll take my turn. 

And if your candle brightly burn {to Ralph) 

While I'm away, e'en though I bring 

The fan to win the promising, {to Nancy) 

If Nancy wishes to unsay 

Her promise, she shall have her way. 

{The two men stand on either side of the girl and 
hold up their candles to light her and as if to 
pledge her. Hugh hows, then walks across in 
front of her and on out through the curtains^ 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

RALPH 

He goeth forth upon his quest 
And whether in earnest or in jest 
No man can say. 

{He turns from looking after Hugh to Nancy , 
and gestures to her to be seated upon the settee^ 

RALPH 

Will you not sit? 

{She sits down on the settee.) 

The last quadrille — he may have it. 

I care not much. 

NANCY 

Oh, but you should! 
I mean I almost think you would 
If you but knew. 'Tis very meet 
For you to know. Quite indiscreet 
For me to tell. Oh, can't you guess? 

RALPH 

I only want you to say *'Yes." 
{He goes to the mantelpiece and pt-aces the candle- 
stick upon it,) 

'Tis foolish, sure, to break a lance 
Just for the trifle of a dance. 
{He comes back and takes the little gilt chair., 
placing it in front of her and sits down.) 
Now, Nancy, give me your consent. 
You must have known 'twas my intent 
To ask you for my wife some day. 
I never dreamed you'd say me nay, 
Or even that you'd hesitate. 

NANCY 

You left a great deal, sir, to fate. 
Don't lovers think they have to woo? 
19 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

RALPH 

They're fools, Vd too much else to do. 
But now the time is ripe, dear Nan. 

NANCY 

You'd better, then, go hunt my fan. 

RALPH 

That's unimportant — 

NANCY 

Nay, not so! (anxiously) 
Indeed, you really ought to go. 

RALPH 

Upon that article of dress. 

Your fan, you lay too much of stress. 

NANCY 

Since you'll not guess, I'm forced to tell 
I've promised him my heart as well 
Who brings my fan. 

RALPH 

By Jove, I see! 

But, Nancy, this is trickery. 

{He gets up hastily at the last speech and now 

moves toward the door. He has taken up the 

candlestick^ 

'Tis foolishness! 

NANCY 

We'll play the game 

And have no one but fate to blame. 

RALPH {stopping at the door and looking greatly 
disturbed) 

Where do you think you could have left 
The fan? Where shall I hunt? A theft 
You guess it was? 

20 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

NANCY 

I cannot say 

iVnd should not if I could— good day! 

{Ralph rushes toward the door and runs straight 
into Hugh, who is coming through the curtains.) 

RALPH {hurriedly and anxiously) 
You've got the fan? 

HUGH 

One doesn't get 

What he already has. Nanette, 
I left you in fantastic mood — 
Fve come back and would fain be good. 
Ralph seemed just now so keen to go 
About his business— leave you so— {noncha- 
lantly) 
I wouldn't have him stay for me. 

{Hugh puts his candle on the mantelpiece. Ralph 
does not budge, but looks angrily at Hugh.) 

HUGH 

Oh, very well, I quite agree 

To have him witness what I tell. 

{He addresses himself always to Nancy, ignoring 

Ralph.) 

'Twas when you left the chair it fell 

{producing the fan) 

So noiselessly you did not hear. 

I picked it up because 'twas dear 

To me, and I meant not to give 

It back, but keep it while I live. 

Then came the chance to tease you, for 

{gesturing toward Ralph) 

'Tis said, all's fair in love and war. 

21 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICK S 

All is not fair and honor's due, 
So I give back the fan to you. 
It is to you that I confess 
I couldn't risk your happiness. 

RALPH 

To choose is now within your will. 
May I not have the last quadrille? 

NANCY 

You may, dear Ralph, I'll speak you fair. 
If Hugh will kindly seek my chair 
And walk beside it home with me 
To see my Grandma, probably 
She'd like tonight to wish us joy. 

{She prettily extends her hand to Hugh, smiling. 
Ralph takes in the situation a little slowly and 
sullenly^ 

RALPH 

I beg your pardon — I'll annoy 
You no further. 

(He looks a little helplessly o.t the candle as he 
turns to go. Hu^h steps forward and takes it 
from him. Ralph departs through the curtains. 
Hugh blows out the candle and places it on the 
mantelpiece — his own is still burning — then comes 
to Nancy.) 

HUGH 

Are you quite 

Content, sweetheart, that this is right? 

NANCY 

I was so very much afraid 

It wouldn't end this way! A maid 

22 



A FAN AND TWO CANDLESTICKS 

Can't see a man's heart until he 
Makes clear his love with honesty. 

HUGH 

You didn't think that I was true? 

NANCY 

You hadn't proved it yet, had you? 
Until you did, I had to play 
The game — I wanted you alway. 

HUGH 

But, dearest, truly will you now 
Believe I'll keep my lover's vow? 

NANCY 

Ah, can't you see I give, dear Hugh, 
My fan {extending it to him) 
And hand {letting her hand rest in his) 
And heart {laying her head upon his breast) 
To you? 

The music of the old-fashioned orchestra is 
heard from the hall. 

Curtain 



23 



3477-65 
Lot W 



Plays by Mary MacMillan 



For Women's Clubs, Girls' Schools, etc. — "In all of 
them will be found a rich and delicate charm, a bountiful 
endowment of humor and wit, a penetrating knowledge of 
human nature, and a deft touch in the drawing of charac- 
ter. They are delicately and sympathetically done and 
their literary charm is undeniable, ^^ — Brooklyn Daily 
Eagle* 

Short Plays 

The Shadowed Star. — The Ring. — The Rose. — Luck. — 
Entr' Act. — A Woman's a Woman for A' That. — A 
Fan and Two Candlesticks. — A Modern Masque. — 
The Futurists. — The Gate of Wishes. 

$2.j;o. 



MORE Short Plays 

His Second Girl. — ^At the Church Door. — Honey. — The 
Dress Rehearsal of Hamlet. — The Pioneers. — In Men- 
delesia, Part /; In Mendelesia, Part II, — The Dryad. 

$2.^0, 

Third Book of Short Plays 

A Weak-End. — In Heaven. — Standing Moving. — An 
Apocryphal Episode. — The Storm. — When Two's Not 
Company. — Peter Donelly. 

$2.^0. 



A FAN AND Two Candlesticks 

Published separately as No. 3 of the Stewart Kidd 
Little Theatre Plays. 

JO cents. . 



STEWART & KIDDl 


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